Cotton and beet chopper and cultivator.



R. B. MORRIS & W. KENNEDY. COTTON AND BEET CHOPPER AND OULTIVATOR.APPLICATION FILED MAR.18, 1909.

Patented May 17, 1910.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

R. B. MORRIS & W. KENNEDY.

COTTON AND BRET CHOPPER AND GULTIVATOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 18, 1909.

Patented May 17, 1910.

' 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2 witweaow R. B. MORRIS & W. KENNEDY. COTTON AND BEE'I'CHOPPER AND GULTIVATOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.'18, 1909.

Patented May 17, 1910.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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ITED STATES PATNT FFIQE.

ROBERT B. MORRIS AND WILLIAM KENNEDY, OF HARRISON VILLE, MISSOURI,ASSIGN- ORS OF ONE-THIRD TO FRANK H. HOWARD, OF HARRISONVILLE, MISSOURI.

COTTON AND BEET CHOPPER AND CULTIVATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed. March 18, 1909.

Patented May 1'7, 1918a Serial No. 484,209.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ROBERT B. Monnis and WVILLIAM KENNEDY, citizens ofthe United States, residing at Harrisonville, in the county of Cass andState of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inCotton and Beet Choppers and Cultivators; and we do declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in cotton and beet choppers andcultivators.

The object of the invention is to provide a machine of this characterhaving an improved construction of chopping mechanism and means wherebythe plants are weeded and cultivated simultaneously with the choppingoperation.

WVith the foregoing and other objects in View, the invention consists ofcertain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement ofparts as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out inthe appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan view of a cottonchopping, weeding and cultivating machine constructed in accordance withour invention; Fig. 2 is a side view of the same; Fig. 3 is a verticallongitudinal sectional view; Fig. 4 is a vertical cross sectional Viewon the line 44 of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a detail cross sectional view of theweeder blades and supporting and adjusting mechanism.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 1 denotes the main frame ofthe machine which is provided with suitable bearings in which isrevolubly mounted a supporting and driving shaft 2, on the outer ends ofwhich are fixed supporting and driving wheels 3. On the main frame 1 aresecured supporting standards 4, on the upper ends of which is mounted ashuttle carrying frame 5 in which is formed a transversely disposedopening 6 and a similarly disposed shuttle receiving opening 7, in whichis mounted to reciprocate the shuttle 8, said shuttle comprising anupper plate on the underside of which is formed a rib 9 which slidablyengages the slot or opening 7 in the frame 5 and on the underside ofsaid rib is secured a retaining plate 10 by means of which the shuttleis held in sliding engagement with the frame 5. In the upper plate ofthe shuttle adjacent each end are operatively mounted pairs ofsupporting rollers 12 which engage the top of the frame 5 and thuspermit the shuttle to slide freely thereon. In the shuttle, mid-waybetween its ends, is formed a slot 13 to receive the upper end of an armor lever 14 of the chopping hoe 15.

The lever 14 of the chopping hoe 15 is adjustably clamped betweensupporting plates 16 by means of clamping bolts 17 and on the plates 16are formed trunnions 18 which are pivotally engaged with hoe supportingbars 19, the outer ends of which are secured to brackets 20 which inturn are slidably mounted on the standards 4. The brackets 20 areyieldingly and adjustably supported on the standards 4 by short coiledsprings 21, the upper ends of which are connected to the cranked outerends 22 of a rock shaft 23 mounted in brackets 24, on the underside ofthe shuttle supporting frame 5. On the rock shaft 23 is formed a crankarm 24 which is connected by an operating rod 25 to a hand lever 26arranged on one side of the frame adjacent to the drivers seat 27. Thelever 26 is provided with a retaining pawl 27 which co-acts with thetoothed rack 28 to hold the lever and the hoe supporting bars in theiradjusted position.

Connected to the shuttle is a suitable operating mechanism comprising acoil spring 29, one end of which is secured to the shuttle midwaybetween its ends, while the opposite end is secured to a wrist pin on acrank arm 30 which is fixedly mounted on an operating shaft 31 journaledin suitable bearings on the frame of the machine. Loosely mounted on theshaft 31 is a sprocket gear 32 having formed thereon one member of aclutch 33, the opposite member 34 of which is slidably keyed to theshaft 31 and is adapted to be shifted into engagement with the clutchmember 33 on the sprocket gear 32 by means of a shifting lever 35 whichis pivotally mounted on a forward extension 36 of the frame 5 and isprovided with an operating rod 37 extending rearwardly along one side ofthe frame 5 and having on its rear end a handle 38 which is arrangedwithin reach of the driver. The rod 37 is provided with a plurality oflocking notches 39 which are adapted to be engaged with a locking lug 40on one end of the frame 5 thereby holding the lever 85 and the clutchmember 34 into and out of engagement with the sprocket wheel 32. hen theclutch member 34 is engaged with the clutch member 33 of the sprocketwheel, the latter will be operatively connected to the shaft 31 and willdrive said shaft through a sprocket chain 41 which is engaged with asprocket wheel 42 on a power transmitting shaft 43 journaled in suitablebearings on the frame 1 of the machine and having on its rear end abevel gear pinion 44 which is engaged with a bevel gear 45 mounted onthe supporting axle or shaft 2 of the machine. By

means of the gears and power transmitting shaft just described, themovement of the drive shaft or axle will be imparted to the crank arm 80which is operatively connected to the shuttle 8 by means of the spring29, as hereinbefore described.

In order that the pressure of the spring 29 may be exerted to provide aquick erking movement to the shuttle chopping hoe, we provide a suitableshuttle stopping and holding mechanism comprising rock shafts 46 whichare operatively mounted in suitable bearings 47 on the rear side of theframe 5, as shown. The rock shafts 46 are provided on their inner endswith inwardly projecting stop lugs 48 and on their outer ends withforwardly projecting trip arms 49. The shafts 46 are provided with coilsprings 50. The spring on the shaft 46 at the right hand side of themachine frame exerts its tension to hold the stop lug 48 of said shaftdown against the frame 5 and in the path of movement of the shuttle,while the spring on the opposite shaft 48 tends to normally hold thestop lug of said shaft up in the path of movement of the shuttle,whereby when the shuttle is moved from one side of the frame to theother, first one and then the other of the stop lugs 48 will engageopposite ends of the shuttle and momentarily hold the same at oppositeends of the frame 5. The shuttle-carrying frame is suitably recessed topermit the stop lug of the shaft 48 at the left hand side of the machineto rise into the path of movement of the shuttle.

The lugs 48 are disengaged from the shuttle by means of a trip finger 51formed by the outer end of the crank arm 80, said finger being adaptedto engage and lift the trip arms 49 as the arm 30 moves past the same,thereby turning the rock shaft 46 and disengaging the stop lugs 48 fromthe end of the shuttle, thus permitting the spring 29, which at thistime is stretched by the crank arm 80, to jerk the shuttle over to theopposite end of the frame 5, in which position it will be momentarilyheld by the stop lug 48 at the opposite end of the frame, said stop lugbeing released by the finger 51 when the crank arm turns to the oppositeside of the frame, and the finger 51 comes into engagement with the triparm at that end of the frame. By this means, it will be seen that theshuttle is jerked back and forth across the frame 5 by the spring 29 andthat it is held momentarily by the stop lugs to permit the crank arm 30to stretch the spring 29 to the desired tension. The trip arm 49 at theleft hand side of the frame is normally held above the shuttle carryingframe 5 by the vertical extension 49 at the outer end of its rock shaft,so that when said trip arm is engaged by the crank arm 80, it ispermitted to swing downwardly and inwardly in an arc toward the shuttlecarrying frame sufficiently to allow the crank arm to pass.

Pivotally connected at their forward ends to the hangers 52 011 thesupporting frame of the machine, are cultivator beams 58 on the reardownwardly curved ends of which are secured cultivator shovels 54. Thecultivator beams are adjustably supported near their rear ends by shortchains 55, the upper ends of which are connected to the hoe supportingbars 19 whereby when said bars are raised by means of the rock shaft 28and operating lever connected therewith, said cultivators will also beraised out of engagement with the ground. The cultivator beams 53 areprovided with handles 56 by means of which the cultivators may bedirected by an operator walking in rear of the machine and the beams arealso provided with foot rests 57 which are engaged by the feet of thedriver on the seat 27, thus pro viding for the guiding or directing ofthe cultivator when the operator is riding.

The weeding mechanism employed in connection with the machine comprisesa pair of weeding blades 58 which are secured to the lower ends of asubstantially bail-shaped supporting frame 59, said frame being formedin adjustably connected sections, as clearly shown in Fig. 5 of thedrawings, whereby the blades may be arranged at various distances apart.The weeding blades are operatively connected with the machine by meansof draft rods 60 which are connected to the forward ends of the bladesand at their forward ends are connected to a draft arm 61 formed on theextension of the frame 1.

The weeding blades are adapted to be raised and lowered into and out ofengage ment with the ground by means of an elevating mechanismcomprising a rock shaft 62 revolubly mounted in suitable bearingbrackets 63 on the frame of the machine. The rock shaft 62 hasrearwardly projecting crank arms 64 which are connected at their rearends with the supporting frame 59 by hanger rods 65. On one end of therock shaft 62 is formed a crank arm 66 which is connected by anoperating rod 67 to a hand lever 68 mounted on the frame withinconvenient reach of the driver whereby the rock shaft 62 may be operatedto raise or lower the weeding blades, as will be understood. The handlever 68 is provided with a locking pawl 69 which is engaged with asegmental rack 70 whereby the rock shaft is held in its adjustedpositions to support the weeding blades.

The forward end of the machine is preferably adj ustably connected tothe rear end of the draft tongue 71 and in order to thus connect thetongue with the machine, the rear end of the tongue is slidably engagedwith the vertically disposed guide frame 72 and on the forward end ofthe machine is operatively mounted a rock shaft- 7 3, on one end ofwhich is fixedly mounted a crank arm 74: which is connected by a link 75 to the rear end of the tongue. On the opposite end of the rock shaft73 is fixed a crank arm 76 which is connected by an operating rod 77 toa hand lever 78 arranged on the frame within reach of the drivers seat,whereby the rock shaft may be operated to raise and lower the forwardend of the machine. The lever 78 is provided with a pawl 79 whichco-acts with a segmental rack 80 to hold the lever in its adjustedposition. The tongue 71 is loosely connected to the forward end of themachine by draft rods 81.

By means of a machine constructed as herein shown and described, theoperation of weeding, chopping out or thinning the plants andcultivating the same may be simultaneously carried on as the machine isdrawn back and forth across the field and by means of the adjustingmechanism, the chopping hoe, cultivators and weeders may be adjusted tooperate at various depths or may be entirely disengaged from the ground.It will be noted that the chopping hoe 15 is of double construction,thus more rapidly thinning out the plants.

While the machine is herein shown and described as being drawn by horsepower, it is obvious that the same may be propelled by a suitablyarranged motor and operating connections, not shown.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, the construction and operation of the inventionwill be readily understood without requiring a more extendedexplanation.

Various changes in the form, proportion and the minor details ofconstruction, may be resorted to without departing from the principle orsacrificing any of the advantages of the invention as defined in theappended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new is:

1. In a machine of the character described, a wheeled supporting frame,a chopping hoe yieldingly and adjustably supported in said frame, and aspring actuated shuttle adapted to operate said hoe.

2. In a machine of the character described, a wheeled supporting frame,a chopping hoe operatively mounted in said frame, a hoe operatingshuttle, a spring to actuate said shuttle, means to stretch said shuttleactuating spring, holding devices to momentarily hold the shuttleagainst the pull of the spring while the latter is being stretched,

and means to automatically release said holding devices.

3. In a machine of the character described, a wheeled supporting frame,a chopping hoe, means whereby said hoe is pivotally and adjustablysupported in said frame, a shuttle supporting frame, a hoe operatingshuttle slidably mounted in said frame, a shuttle operating mechanismincluding a spring adapted to jerk the shuttle back and forth, and meansto momentarilyhold the shuttle at the end of its strokes, while thespring is being stretched.

4. In a machine of the character described, a wheeled supporting frame,a chopping hoe operatively mounted in said frame, a shuttle supportingframe, a hoe operating shuttle slidably mounted in said frame, ashut-tle operating mechanism including a spring adapted to jerk theshuttle back and forth, a drive shaft, a shuttle operating shaftconnected to said drive shaft, and means on said shuttle operating shaftto stretch said spring and thereby cause the latter to operate saidshuttle.

5. In a machine of the character described, a wheeled supporting frame,a shuttle supporting frame, hoe supporting bars adjustably connected tosaid shuttle supporting frame, means to yieldingly hold said hoesupporting frame in its adjusted positions, a chopping hoe pivotally andadjustably mounted in said hoe supporting bars, a shuttle slidablymounted in said shuttle frame and adapted to engage said hoe, and ashuttle operating mechanism including a spring whereby said shuttle isjerked back and forth to operate the hoe.

6. In a machine of the character described, a wheeled supporting frame,a chopping hoe operatively mounted in said frame, a shuttle supportingframe, a hoe operating shuttle slidably mounted in said shuttle frame, adrive shaft, a shuttle operating shaft connected to said drive shaft, acrank arm on said operating shaft, a coiled spring to connect said crankarm with said shuttle whereby the latter is jerked back and forth insaid shuttle supporting frame, spring operated shuttle holding shafts,shuttle engaging stops on the ends of said shafts to momentarily holdthe shuttle at the end of its strokes while said coiled spring is beingstretched, and trip arms on the opposite ends of said shafts adapted tobe engaged by the crank arm on the shuttle operating shaft, whereby saidstops are disengaged from the shuttle to permit the spring to operatethe same.

7. In a machine of the character described, a main supporting frame, ashuttle supporting frame arranged on said main supporting frame, ashuttle slidably mounted in said frame a vertically adjustable hoesupporting frame, hoe clamping plates pivotally mounted in said frame, adouble bladed hoe adjustably secured to said clamping plates and havingat its upper end an operating engagement with said shuttle, whereby whenthe latter is reciprocated, the hoe will be operated, a raising andlowering mechanism connected to said hoe supporting frame, saidmechanism comprising a rock shaft, crank arms arranged on the oppositeends of said shafts, spring to connect said crank arms with said hoesupporting frame, an operating lever, and a connecting rod to connectsaid operating lever with said rock shaft whereby the latter may beturned to raise and lower the hoe supporting frame.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

ROBERT E. MORRIS. WILLIAM KENNEDY. WVitnesses GEORGE C. EGY, F. H.HOWARD.

